Broncos Trade Down And Then Out Of Round 1 Of 2012 NFL Draft

04/27/2012 01:48 pm ET
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Updated
Apr 27, 2012

"Well, we didn't get any better yet, but we will tomorrow," Broncos executive vice president John Elway said at a press conference after round one of the 2012 NFL draft concluded Thursday night with the Broncos drafting not a single player.

The Broncos began the first round at No. 25. But, about an hour before they would have made their pick it was announced that they had dealt No. 25 to the New England Patriots for New England's No. 31 choice and a fourth-rounder (No. 126 overall), according to The Associated Press. The Pats picked up Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower and the Broncos just waited some more.

Then the Broncos traded both of those spots they picked up from the Patriots and sent them to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Tampa's second-rounder (No. 36 overall) and a fourth-rounder (No. 101 overall).

"We moved up twenty-five spots to the top of the fourth [round]," Elway said at the post-draft press conference about the deal-making. "We really believe this is a deep draft."

This is the first time since 2005 that the Broncos did not pick in the opening round, The Denver Post reports, and it was kind of a let down for fans. "I feel for the fans, obviously they were downtown, excitement was rolling, they couldn't wait to get a pick... I can understand the fans being a little bit disappointed because they want to get excited and see who is going to be the next Denver Bronco," Elway said. The Broncos EVP also joked about the pressure that the fans were feeling, "I had a friend of mine say: 'You need to pick. I can't have another drink.'"

But Elway remains hopeful about Friday's second round, "We want to find a couple tomorrow," Elway said. "We still feel those impact guys are there."